Robert Jaermann, general manager of the Amari Airport
Hotel, announces the appointment of Mark Bulmer as executive assistant
manager. Bulmer, an Australian citizen holds a B.A. Business (Hospitality
Management) from “La trobe” University, Victoria, and has extensive prior
experience in rooms division management, gained at various Le Meridien
properties in Australia, Vanuatu, Malaysia and Cambodia. He replaces
Resident Manager Wouter Hazenbroek who has been promoted to general manager
of the Amari Boulevard Hotel.

Bangkok Airways to connect Samui- Singapore daily

Bangkok Airways will fly daily on its Samui-Singapore
route starting from April 18, an increase in frequency from its current six
times weekly services.
The added flight will serve Koh Samui and Singapore by filling up a Tuesday
slot, utilizing a 120-seat Boeing 717-200 aircraft.
Daily flights will depart from Samui at 16.40 hours, arriving in Singapore
at 19.20. Return flights leave Singapore at 20.10, arriving in Samui at
20.50.
After March 26, flights from Samui will leave at 16.30 while the arrival
time in Singapore remains the same. (TTG Asia)

Emirates offers complimentary nights in Hamburg

In a move that will be music to the ears of many of its
customers eyeing travel to Hamburg, Emirates started offering complimentary
accommodation and car rental on the launch of its daily services to the
German city on 1st of March, 2006.
The offer, valid from 1st March to 31st May, provides travelers flying
Emirates First Class to Hamburg with three nights’ complimentary stay at the
Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten plus a free day’s rental of a BMW 7 Series
car, or a weeks’ car rental in Hamburg. Business Class travelers can enjoy
two nights’ stay at the Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten or five days car
rental; while Economy Class travelers can avail of one complimentary night’s
stay or three days car rental in Hamburg. The car rental option includes an
Audi A4 (or similar) with unlimited mileage.

Hamburg
will be Emirates’ fourth gateway to Germany. The airline currently flies
twice a day to Munich and Frankfurt, with the second daily to Düsseldorf
commencing on 1st May. Germany is one of Emirates’ most important markets
and its new daily service to Hamburg will further strengthen this position.
As one of the host cities for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Hamburg is gearing up
to receive thousands of visitors during the tournament, and Emirates’ new
services would no doubt be welcomed by soccer fans around the world seeking
convenient travel connections to Germany. This also enhances Emirates’ role
in being an Official Partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™.
Emirates operates its A330-200 aircraft in a three-class configuration on
the Hamburg route, offering 237 seats and 14 tons of belly-hold capacity.
Soonthorn Suree, Emirates’ area manager Thailand and Indochina, said:
“Emirates continues to widen its global network, providing convenient travel
options between continents, and providing great value with its introductory
offers. Our passengers will be delighted to know that our current daily
flights between Bangkok and Dubai offer convenient connections to Hamburg.”
From Bangkok to Dubai, Flight EK385 departs Bangkok International Airport
daily at 01.20hrs to arrive in Dubai International Airport at 05.00hrs.
Flight EK419 departs Bangkok daily at 02.20hrs to arrive in Dubai at
06.00hrs, and flight EK387 departs Bangkok every Monday, Wednesday and
Saturday at 02.55hrs to arrive in Dubai at 06.55hrs.
Flight EK059 will take off daily from Dubai International Airport at
08:55hrs arriving at Hamburg International Airport at 12:55hrs the same day.
The return flight, EK060, will depart at 15:35hrs, arriving in Dubai at
00:45hrs the next morning.
On the Dubai - Bangkok return flights, EK384 leaves Dubai daily at 03.15hrs
to arrive in Bangkok at 12.05hrs and EK386 leaves Dubai every Tuesday,
Friday and Saturday at 08.10hrs to arrive Bangkok at 17.10hrs.
Soonthorn added: “While transiting through the Dubai International Airport
passengers can enjoy the fantastic bargains at the renowned Dubai Duty Free.
Moreover, this package also enables our customers to take advantage of
Emirates’ Dubai Stopover packages at no additional costs.”
Emirates’ launch offer to Hamburg may be booked via travel agents or
directly from the Emirates office on 0-2664-1045.
The offer is applicable to all adult fare paying customers traveling to
Hamburg exclusively on flights operated by Emirates. Customers are advised
to check terms and conditions with their travel agents.

Green light for Conrad in Phuket

Conrad Phuket Resort and Spa is slated to open in 2007
after a two-year delay. It was scheduled to open in the middle of last year.
The property’s owner, Resort Holdings, commissioned Hilton International in
2003 to re-brand and renovate the former Panwaburi Resort and Spa with a
US$15-million budget (Bt.600 million).
The resort is located on Cape Panwa Bay. It will have 107 rooms and villas
in four categories, each is built on the hillside and commands a sweeping
view of the sea. (TTG Asia)

New five-star property for Phuket

Pearl Village Resort in Phuket has been closed for a
major renovation that will see it emerge as a five-star property under a new
brand.
The 20-year-old four-star resort on Nai Yang Beach will be reopened as the
Indigo Pearl following the 800 million baht (US$20.4 million) renovation. It
is slated to recommence operations on October 15.
The Indigo Pearl will have 290 rooms in five different styles. Room sizes
will range from 56m2 to 120m2.
Facilities will include eight bars and restaurants, three swimming pools, a
cooking school, tennis courts, spa services, a children’s club, a fitness
centre and meditation pavilion, as well as a driving school.
The resort expects to attract younger quests once the makeover is completed.
(TTG Asia)

Big expansion at Bangkok Airways

Bangkok Airways plans to introduce three new direct
international services from Bangkok to Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City and
Nagoya this year.
Bangkok Airways spokesman, Nandhika Varavarn, told TTG Asia ITB Daily the
airline had already received landing rights from Laos, Vietnam and Japan.
“The route network expansion to Laos and Vietnam is part of our plan to
become the feeder airline of the Greater Mekong sub region,” she said.
The airline plans to operate one flight daily on the Bangkok-Vientiane and
Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City routes by the middle of the year, using two new
Boeing 717 aircraft - each with 125 seats. It plans to offer three flights a
week to Nagoya on board a new aircraft - either an A330 or Boeing 737 - with
at least 200 seats by the third quarter of this year. (TTG Asia)

Thai trade fears tourism backlash

The travel trade has acknowledged security concerns exist
following caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s decision to dissolve
parliament and call a snap election in the face of public pressure for his
resignation.
The political unrest has resulted in the British government issuing a travel
advisory warning its citizens in Thailand to avoid “large crowds and public
gatherings, as there is the risk of public disorder”.
Posted on its Foreign & Commonwealth Office website, the advisory states the
number of political demonstrations in both Bangkok and provincial towns this
year are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
A snap election has been called for April 2. But with the opposition
parties’ decision to boycott the poll, peaceful protests demanding that
Thaksin step down are expected to intensify.
LTU Asia Tours Managing Director, Christoph Mueller, said some hotels had
experienced a drop in corporate and incentive business as a result of the
unrest.
Diethelm Travel Thailand Managing Director, Richard Brouwer, played down the
threat of violence and said the British government had gone too far by
issuing the travel advisory. However, he admitted Diethelm was monitoring
the situation closely.
Meanwhile, a decision on whether the Thailand Travel Mart (TTM) will take
place this year has yet to be reached despite the March 1 meeting called by
industry figures to decide its fate.
Association of Thai Travel Agents President, Apichart Sankary, said the
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) did not confirm if the event would be
staged as it would depend on the new Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Speaking on behalf of the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations, which
comprises five Thai-registered tourism-related associations, Apichart said
the federation would continue to press for the event to be staged in
September.
He said TAT had confirmed it had pushed forward for a budget allocation.
“Once all is confirmed, TAT will officially announce the future of TTM,” he
said. (TTG Asia)